(1)Map Showing NAFO Management Units
Cod in Canadian and NAFO Waters
Distribution
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Found in the Northwest Atlantic from Greenland to Cape Hatteras
Stocks
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Are 12 stocks in total with 9 stocks in Canadian and NAFO waters
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2GH (northern Labrador)
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2J+3KL (northern cod)
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3M (Flemish Cap)
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3NO (southern Grand Bank)
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3Ps (southern Newfoundland)
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4RS-3Pn (northern Gulf of St Lawrence)
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4TVn (southern Gulf of St Lawrence)
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4VsW (Scotian Shelf)
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4X (Bay of Fundy)
Cod in Canadian and NAFO Waters
History of management
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Until the early 1970's the fisheries research administered by the
Fisheries Research Board of Canada (FRBC)
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Subsequently taken over by Federal Government - Department of
Fisheries
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ICNAF (International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic
Fisheries) provided management
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Extension of jurisdiction to 200 nm -1977
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NAFO (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization) – 3M and 3NO
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CAFSAC (Canadian Atlantic Fisheries Scientific Advisory Council)
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Latter replaced by regional/zonal assessments and FRCC (Fisheries
Resource Conservation Council) - consults with science and
stakeholders and provides advice to Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
on TAC's for cod and other groundfish
Cod in Canadian and NAFO Waters
Management strategies
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Traditionally attempted to fish at F
max then F
0 1
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Controls on by-catch of cod in other fisheries through spatial/temporal
closures/gear restrictions (mesh sizes and amounts of gear, Nordmore
grates, etc)
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In Canada introduction of dockside monitoring program to monitor
landings more carefully (paid for by industry)
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Enforcement through spot checks by fisheries officers on patrol
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Observers on larger offshore vessels (Canadian and NAFO)
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Surveillance over-flights/aerial photography and patrols/boardings of
vessels in NAFO Regulatory Area (NRA)
Cod in Canadian and NAFO Waters
Assessments
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Annual research vessel survey biomass, abundance and catch-rate
indices along with age/growth, SSB, condition, etc data
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Inshore sentinel fishery catch-rate index (line-trawl and gill net) for
3Pn4RS, 3Ps and 2J3KL cod
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Science log-book catch rate indices (< 35' vessels) for 3Pn4RS, 3Ps
and 2J3KL cod
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Exploitation and stock size estimates from tagging (inshore only) for
3Pn4RS, 3Ps and 2J3KL cod
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Other data sources (pre-recruit surveys, hydro-acoustic estimates) for
3Ps and 2J3KL cod
Cod in Canadian and NAFO Waters
2J+3KL cod ("Northern" cod)
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Cod from this stock grow more slowly compared to those in
warmer areas
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An age 5 cod is presently about 50 cm (about 20 inches) long
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Females mature at about age 5, and age at maturity has declined
since the early 1980's
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Feed on a wide variety of food items
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Capelin has historically been the major prey of adults
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Historically, many northern cod migrated between over-wintering
areas offshore and summer feeding areas inshore
Cod in Canadian and NAFO Waters
2J+3KL cod ("Northern" cod)
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Supported a commercial fishery since the 16th century
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Prior to 1960 the catches were generally less than 300,000 t
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With higher catches in the late 1960s (max. 800,000 t in 1967),
mainly by non-Canadian fleets, the stock declined until the mid-
1970s
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After the extension of jurisdiction in 1977, the stock increased
until the mid-1980s, but then collapsed in late 1980s and early
1990s
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Moratorium on commercial fishing declared in July 1992
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Small inshore TAC reintroduced in 1998
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Fishery again closed in 2003
Cod in Canadian and NAFO Waters
3Ps cod
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Cod from this stock grow more rapidly compared to northern cod
or those in northern Gulf of St. Lawrence
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An age 5 cod is presently about 54 cm (about 22 inches) long
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Females mature at about age 5, and age at maturity has declined
since the early 1980's
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Feed on a wide variety of food items
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Capelin has historically been an important prey of adults
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Sand lance is an important prey item on St. Pierre Bank.
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Some offshore cod migrate from offshore over-wintering areas in
to summer inshore feeding areas
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Stock was not in as poor shape as northern cod when moratorium
introduced (1993) - good growth and survival of two year-classes
(1989 and 1990) resulted in good rebuilding of stock
Cod in Canadian and NAFO Waters
3Ps cod
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Supported a commercial fishery for decades
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During 1960-1970 annual catches generally 60,000 - 80,000 t
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Stock heavily exploited by non-Canadian fleets, particularly
from Spain
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Fishery declined through the 1970's until extension of jurisdiction
in 1977, thereafter landings increased until the mid-1980's
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French catches increased in the offshore throughout the late 1980s
and the stock declined until the early-1990s
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Moratorium on commercial fishing declared in August 1993
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Small TAC was reintroduced in 1997 - restricted to the inshore and
to vessels less than 65 feet in length
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Current TAC 15,000 t
Cod in Canadian and NAFO Waters
3NO cod
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Cod from this stock grow more rapidly compared to northern cod
or those in northern Gulf of St. Lawrence
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Age 5 cod is presently about 55 cm long
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Females mature at about age 5
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age at maturity has declined since the early 1980's
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Feed on a wide variety of food items
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Capelin historically an important prey of adults
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Sand lance an important prey item in some areas
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Some offshore cod over-winter along the slope edge and migrate
onto the shallower Grand Banks and to inshore feeding areas in
summer
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Some seasonal mixing between cod from 3O and 3Ps
Cod in Canadian and NAFO Waters
3NO cod
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Supported a commercial fishery for decades
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During 1950's reported catches were variable ranging from 40,000
- 140,000 t
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Hand-line fisheries on the shallowest areas of the Grand Banks
were replaced by large otter trawlers in recent decades.
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Stock was heavily exploited by non-Canadian fleets, particularly
from the former USSR and Spain, and catches peaked at 227,000 t
in 1967
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Fishery declined steadily thereafter to a low of 15,000 t in 1978
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From 1979 to 1991 reported catches ranged from 20,000 t to
50,000 t
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The stock declined rapidly in the late 1980's and early 1990's
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Moratorium was imposed in 1994
Cod in Canadian and NAFO Waters
3NO cod
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Stock remains at an extremely low level
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Reported by-catch of cod has increased ten-fold since moratorium
imposed
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currently at levels that are impeding stock recovery
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Heavy and illegal directed fishing on the "tail" of the Grand
Bank in NAFO Regulatory Area
